What Does Your Yes Mean?

"Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.  All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." - Matthew 5:33-37

I work with a lot of different people - well meaning people. People who tell you they are going to do something, but then some of them don't. I call it the 50 percent rule.  Half of the people who tell you they are going to do something, actually do it. Guys are especially bad about it. If they tell you they are going to help what that often really means is that so long as something more interesting doesn't come along they will be there ... maybe. And most often, they don't tell you they have changed their plans - they just don't show up.

Jesus said that we should let our yes be yes and our no - no. If we are not sure then make it clear that we are not giving a firm yes. There should only be one kind of yes - a committed one. It's like we say "yes" so people will think well of us. Then when we don't live up to the "yes", we think nothing of it - but the one to whom the promise was made does - disappointed. 

"But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ." - 2 Corinthians 1:18-20

Like God, we should and must be true to our commitments. To say yes and mean it, even if it costs us personally to fulfill the promise. Even if we miss out on something that we really would like to have done instead. It gets down to the fact that fact that we have a heart problem. If our heart is not sincere, neither will our words be. That not applies to our dealings with other people, but with our faith and commitment to God. Let your "Yes" be yes to both God and men.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone